A Chinese Self-Driving Car Company Stole A Massive Trove Of US Data

TuSimple, a self-driving truck company with Chinese ties, was found to have transferred sensitive U.S. intellectual property to China despite signing a national security agreement. The agreement, enforced by CFIUS, aimed to separate TuSimple's U.S. operations from its China-based partners and prevent data sharing. However, TuSimple transferred a vast trove of data, including source code and technical blueprints, to a Beijing-owned truck manufacturer shortly after signing the agreement. While CFIUS fined TuSimple $6 million for other infractions, the company did not admit fault, and a co-founder denied sharing prohibited information. TuSimple subsequently shut down its U.S. operations, was delisted from Nasdaq, and moved investor funds to China. This incident has prompted the Trump administration to reconsider its approach to foreign-connected firms. The White House will now block more China-backed deals outright instead of relying on mitigation agreements. New rules also prohibit the sale of internet-connected vehicles and components to entities connected to China. Further restrictions on commercial vehicles are expected to be imposed soon.